Your True Independence Day

Today in the States it’s the 4th of July, and to celebrate my wife and I are visiting family in Southern California for some much needed beach time. And on this patriotic day, I’d like to share the unlikely story of how 4 trashcans taught me a deep lesson about that most cherished of American principles: Freedom

This morning, as I walked past a popular surf spot, I paused to sit at a park bench and admire the surfers gliding over the water. In front of me were the waves, the sand, a lifeguard tower, and… 4 trashcans.

This was a public park, and the trashcans were critical to handle the hordes of summer visitors and their trash.

It makes sense that they were placed there.

And so I continued watching and soaking in the views. But after a few minutes, the thought occurred to me…

If I drove across several states, took time off from work, and made sacrifices… all to look at the beach…

Then why am I content to look at the beach with trashcans in the way?

And so I got up, made the extra effort, changed my position where I could watch the surfers… but this time… unimpeded by trashcans.

As I sat feeling the breeze, and watching the waves go by… a profound truth hit me:

If I don’t like something, I have the freedom to change.

If I want something different, I have the freedom to change my circumstances.

If I want to live my life at a different level, I have the freedom to remove the “trashcans” in my life.

What does this have to do with influence and success?

Sometimes we are given circumstances in our life… that make sense.

THIS was how so-and-so did it.

THAT’s just how its been done for XYZ years.

We’ve only ever done it THAT way…

And upon first glance, those trashcans are a reasonable and logical approach to solve common problems.

But sometimes you catch a vision of something bigger.

Sometimes you see an ocean of opportunities in front of you.

Sometimes you see people gliding and weaving over the waves…living their best life… and you can feel the sea breeze calling.

But right in front of you, what stands in the way?

Those trashcans that have always been there. Because they’re logical and make sense.

The tragedy is, most people stay right where they are and don’t make any changes because… “that’s just not what we do”

And sometimes they stare at the trashcans because they are afraid of judgement.

But the truth is…

If you don’t like something, you have the freedom to change.

If you want something different, you have the freedom to change your circumstances.

If you want to live your life at a different level, you have the freedom to remove the “trashcans” in your life.

Because those trashcans were placed there… to handle someone else’s trash.

Not yours.

Across this country (and the world) people throw around the word “freedom” a lot.

Politicians from all persuasions use it, and people across the spectrum say it too.

And frankly, they usually mean completely different things.

But on this “Independence Day” I am grateful for the one freedom that is possibly the greatest freedom of all:

The freedom to change.

The truth is, you haven’t come THIS far and sacrificed THIS much to live a life full of other people’s trashcans.

And so on this uniquely American Day of the year, what trashcans do you want to change in your life?

Maybe then… you will enjoy your truly first… Independence Day.

Christian

CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the 2X #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com